After riding a short distance, they turned down by a road which led to the pond, which was now covered with so thick and solid a sheet of ice, that it was safe travelling upon it, and it was accordingly intersected with roads in every direction.

They rode down at a rapid trot to the ice, followed by Franco, who was always glad to go upon an expedition.
The road led them over, very nearly, the same part of the pond that Jonas had navigated in his boat, when he fitted a sail to it,--though now the appearances were so different all around, that one would hardly have supposed the scene to have been the same.

There was the same level surface, but it was now a solid field, white with snow, instead of the undulating expanse of water, of the deep-blue color reflected from the sky.

There were the same islands, and promontories, and beaches; but the verdure was gone, and the naked whiteness of the beach seemed to have spread over the whole landscape.

It was a very pleasant ride, however.
The road was level, though very winding, as it passed around capes and headlands, and now and then took a wide circuit to avoid a breathing-hole.